Helicopter Simulator Flight Controls Catalogue

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In order to use simulation software, you need controls that provide input to it. These must resemble real controls as much as possible
if you want the simulator to reflect real experience. On this page, you will find
an overview of the helicopter flight controls commonly used with simulation software.

Configuration & settings

When using controls, it is important to configure your software in a way
that is best suited to flying helicopters. Because
they are inherently unstable, helicopters need continuous input from their controls. They should therefore not have a zero zone
(configured) because you want them to act immediately. Helicopters are also controlled simply by applying pressure instead
of moving the control around. Accordingly, the sensitivity
should be set to between
high and maximum. These observations are especially important for the cyclic, collective
and pedals.

Cyclic Control

There are basically two options with the
cyclic: you either get a control which physically behaves and looks like one or
you use a joystick. The most important difference between a joystick and a real
cyclic is that with the latter, the experience and the behaviour are more realistic. When using a real cyclic, you will make other input movements, using different muscles to those engaged by a joystick. The most noticeable
mechanical difference between the two is that a cyclic is much
longer and has its joint near the floor. Another important aspect is the home position
of the cyclic. When flying, the 'neutral' position depends on the flight manoeuvre.
For this reason, the zero position can be trimmed and set with a real cyclic. A
joystick with springs centres this tool,
which will make controlling the 'cyclic' hard work after a time. A remedy is to disable the springs (by modifying the joystick).

Joysticks (as Cyclic)

Much used joystick and good value for money. The throttle slider can be used as your 'collective'. It also supports twist movement, however,
using pedals for this input dimension is much better (and less difficult). Disadvantageous is the somewhat high spring pressure.

Joystick designed with flying in mind. It has no twist capability as this input should be provided by pedals (this is a plus from the
fidelity point of view). It is possible to use the throttle wheel as a 'collective'.

Also a much used joystick, designed with flying in mind. One of the throttles can be configured as your 'collective'. This joystick also
supports yaw control by twisting the stick, however, you should use pedals for this (otherwise, helicopter flying will be more difficult).

The TRC2244 Cyclic is the Flight Stick used in the TRC2244 setup (Robinson R22/R44 helicopter replica).

The casing is made from aluminium which is powder coated and highly scratch resistant. The tubing is from aluminium heavy tube and is also powder coated.

The internal mechanism is produced from stainless steel for long life and daily use.

The Cyclic comes with a detachable left grip, which can be used in dual pilot situations.

The Cyclic is connected to the CCU.

It is produced from high quality materials.

The casing is made from aluminum which is powder coated and highly scratch
resistant.

The tubing is from aluminum heavy tube and is also powder coated.

The internal mechanism is produced from stainless steel for long life and daily
use.

Hall-Effect Sensor.

Heavy duty steel.

Adjustable friction adjustment.

Floor mounting.

Requires special USB interface.

Target audience

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation

Interfaces

USB

USB

USB

USB

Useful links

www.flightlink.com

www.simkits.com

www.simkits.com

www.c-tekflight.com

Shopping

Collective Control

For the collective control, there are basically two choices. You can use the
slider that comes with most joysticks as the collective (and throttle) control.
This is also the cheapest way to implement both cyclic and collective control (albeit
not the most realistic one, of course). The other way to go is to use a separate control as the collective. This can be either a joystick
or a control that closely
resembles
a real collective. As with
the cyclic, a real collective control will require quite different movements. For
example, you use arm and wrist movements instead of finger movements with a joystick slider.
Using a real collective also gives the most realistic results.

Name

Flight Link - Collective

SimKits - TRC 2244 Collective (Throttle/Rotor handle)

C-Tek - Collective control

Price level
(approximate)

$495 (with throttle)
$395 (without throttle)
$50 for USB interface

$950

$450

Description

Professional collective.

Professional collective for Robinson family helicopters.

Professional collective.

Features

Friction control knob

Stainless steel lever controls lift

Velvet smooth twist grip handle controls RPM's

Heavy gauge metal enclosure with industrial finish

The TRC 2244 Collective is a replica of the collective used in the Robinson Helicopter.

With twist throttle handle with foam handgrip.

Rotor Governor Switch built into the handle

The friction of the Collective can be adjusted by the friction adjust wheel on the side.

The Collective is produced using an aluminum casing (powder coated), stainless steel tubing and stainless steel internal mechanics.

Designed for continuous use.

The Collective is connected to the CCU.

Hall-Effect Sensor.

Heavy duty steel.

Adjustable friction adjustment.

Floor mounting.

Requires special USB interface.

Target audience

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation, DIY

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation, DIY.

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation, DIY.

Interfaces

USB (option)

Interface to CCU

USB

Useful links

www.flightlink.com

www.simkits.com

www.c-tekflight.com

Shopping

Pedals

Pedals give you all you need to get realistic yaw control for your
helicopter. They also give your flight experience a much more
true to life feel. A
low budget solution to implement yaw control is to use the wrist twisting movement of a joystick. However, flying helicopters without pedals is far
from authentic and difficult.

These Anti-Torque Pedals use two commercial quality hydraulic cylinders to simulate
the damping effect found while in flight. They are constructed from a heavy gauge
steel with a quality industrial finish to provide accurate feel and reliability.

Anti-torque pedals made of all steel construction with heavy duty rod ends and sleeve bearings for long life. Friction tape included so your feet won't slip off the pedals.

Packages

There are also packages where the pedals, cyclic and collective are combined into one system. Most of these
systems can be connected to a PC using only one USB connection, and can be used with standard
flight simulation software like FSX or X-Plane. The packages are usually of a much higher quality than mainstream game controllers
and are often used in a commercial / professional environment.

Many upgrades possible like push-pull pedals, curved cyclic, and dual control set kits

Target audience

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation / DIY projects

High Fidelity Helicopter Simulation / DIY projects.

Interfaces

USB

USB

Useful links

www.simkits.com

www.pro-flight-trainer.com

Shopping

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8 Comments

Item

Info

Text

1

NameKeith

Thursday, March 20, 2014 7:57 PM

There is no sense in this stuff costing what it does. I'll make my own before I bow to the likes of this BS. $495.00 that's just freaking sad is what that is.

2

Jim

Thursday, April 3, 2014 2:22 AM

Agree with previous poster. These people must be smoking crack to expect so much money for a controller with such limited software compatibilities. Demand nor manufacture do not warrant such a price tag either.

3

Kevin Anders

Wednesday, April 23, 2014 3:29 AM

ah guys..

Its a principal in economics called economy of scale.

There ain't 37,000 virtual helicopter pilots out there buying 157 of these things a week thereby lowering the overall cost.

These outfits only sell a few a year. Maybe a dozen or so if things are going well. The expense of R and D and production simply has to be carried by far fewer pilots vs the standard off the shelf fixed wing controls.

Saitek, CH products and other similar players would roll this stuff out if there were a profitable market for such. That market does not exist at this time and may never due to the fact the helicopter pilots are not made easily and flying them virtually or in reality is hard as all hell. Go to your local airfield. 137 fixed wing aircraft sitting down at the one by me. About 6 rotorcraft on the property. There are simply far fewer folks who fly or give a damn about helicopters as opposed to the 8 guys in any given town who have shares in some 172 down at the local airport.

AND...Lets face it. A large number of simmers probably just want to position the airplane on the active and take off. F(%$ calling ATC for clearance or going over a check list...I just want to FLY baby!!

These things are high end hobby tools with a means to an end.

Some of us use these things as homework for certification or simply for the fact that knowledge about your hobby feels good. I love the fact that I can do a full turbine start in a 206B to the letter and NOT have a hotstart whereas the guy next door wouldn't know what TOT stood for let alone what a collective even does.

I will leave you and any others who question the expense with this.

1) These are NOT easy to build and even more expensive to put into any kind of "production run" Go ahead and try to build one on your own from scratch. Do you fully understand CAD, CNC machining, 3D print prototyping and the astronomical cost of cutting steel for the master molds once you go to durable resins used in final production?

2) Do you understand the nature of Hall effect sensors, magnetic inductance potentiometers or even simple mechanical pots and how the output data from any of the aforementioned needs to get integrated into a language your sim of choice can understand? These dudes don't forget to "carry the one" and probably did all the extra credit work in high school. Trust me. These things will frustrate the hell out of you and they, the developers and builders have graciously done the sweating and swearing for you.

Believe me, I was right there with you until I started researching doing the same thing you propose. I'd rather shell out the 12 to 15 hundred US dollars for a reasonable home set up, PLUG AND PLAY mind you.... and get on with my life and my flying of helicopters and spend the month and a half of night and weekend I would have spent developing my own home version with my kids and wife.

4

John

Thursday, April 23, 2015 9:01 PM

@Kevin Anders: well said... the price is high, but it all has a reason, you explained it well! I'm gonna buy some soon... it's a MUST for wanna-be-heli pilots! I flown a real R22 last week... and the simulator helped MUCH... now a better heli stick is needed to get more practicing! Keep on going the excellent good work guys!

5

Polgar Imre

Saturday, May 21, 2016 9:01 PM

Dear Kevin Anders!
Thank you so very much for having taken your precious time to explain all those details! Yes, I am convinced that these heli sim controls producers are enthusiasts! How much easeir is to make money by opening a pizza or a kebab place!

To the esteemed Developers and Producers of heli sim controls: Thank you ever so much!
+!
Polgar Imre

6

MG Bear

Saturday, May 28, 2016 1:55 AM

To anyone who might visit this GREAT page....
Does anyone have any personal experience with the high end helicopter controls mentioned above?
I've decided that this is the year I am going to get my HC add-on rating (Pvt Pilot SEL) in an Enstrom F-28. I believe that a high fidelity simulator might help in my training. I know that with muscle memory conditioning, a bad simulator can be worse than no simulator.
I have a moderately sophisticated flight sim set up for fixed wing and would like to add the best rotorcraft capability that I can. With the kind of money one has to spend on helicopters, anything that could leverage your training time helps pay for itself.
(Thanks, Kevin, you are on the mark)
Thanks! MG Bear

7

chris niederhauser

Saturday, June 18, 2016 3:23 PM

Hi Peter,

I have been trying to get in touch with you regarding this page. Our product at Pro Flight Trainer have one more time been upgraded, and I see this page is still in our 2008 status.

What is the best way for us to help you update this page?

thanks
chris
Pro Flight Trainer

PS: I see we have quite some common interest, 3D Printing, Development and product Design, Helicopters, Simulators... ;-)